Asparagus planting methods and growing environment

Asparagus , also known as Asparagus officinalis and Asparagus corydalis, is a famous health vegetable variety with extremely high nutritional value and is widely cultivated in China. So what are the planting methods and growing environment for asparagus? Let’s learn more about it below.

How to grow asparagus

To plant asparagus, you need to soak the seeds in warm water at 25-30℃ for 5 days, change the water 1-2 times a day, and allow the seeds to fully absorb water before planting. The sowing depth is generally about 3 cm. When sowing, it is necessary to dig furrows and water the field twice on the basis of preparing the ridges. After the water seeps down, the asparagus seeds should be sown individually. The sowing density is: row spacing 15-20 cm, plant spacing 5 cm, cover with 2-3 cm of soil after sowing, and lightly press down on the second day to allow the seeds to be in close contact with the soil to facilitate water absorption and moisture retention.

Asparagus growing environment

1. Temperature

Asparagus does not have very high temperature requirements. It can withstand low temperatures and is also relatively resistant to high temperatures. However, the germination temperature is usually required to be no lower than 5℃, and the most suitable temperature is around 28℃. If the temperature is higher than 30℃, the germination rate of asparagus will be reduced.

2. Lighting

Asparagus is a light-loving crop and has high requirements for light. If there is insufficient light during the vigorous growth period of the aboveground stems and leaves, it will seriously affect the production and accumulation of assimilated substances, as well as the growth and development of asparagus. The daily sunlight exposure time must be ensured to be at least five hours. If conditions permit, it is best to have sunlight all day.

3. Moisture

Asparagus is a plant that is not tolerant to waterlogging. It should be kept moist, especially when harvesting. The soil moisture content should be maintained at 55%-62%, which is most conducive to the germination of tender stems. But it should not be damp or waterlogged.

4. Nutrients

Asparagus requires a variety of nutrients for normal growth. Among the macroelements, nitrogen and potassium are more abundant, while phosphorus is less. Among the trace elements, calcium, zinc, manganese and chlorine are indispensable. Usually, an asparagus yield of 800 kilograms per mu needs to absorb 8.68 kilograms of pure nitrogen, 2.25 kilograms of phosphorus pentoxide, 7.75 kilograms of potassium oxide, and 6.58 kilograms of calcium oxide from the soil throughout the year.

5. Soil

Asparagus grows best in loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam, which is conducive to root development and high yield of tender stems.

In general, growing asparagus is not difficult, but if you want to grow high yields of asparagus, you must provide a suitable growth environment. This requires growers to make adequate pre-sowing preparations, such as site selection, land preparation, fertilization, etc.